By Oscar Romero
Daily Titan Multimedia Editor
Published: March 15, 2010

Republican party gubernatorial candidates Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman debated Monday at the Samueli Theater at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa.

“It gives people an idea what the candidates are about and what they are saying,” said Dr. Gregory Brown, an assistant professor of criminal justice.

Whitman and Poizner tackled spending restructuring, higher education expenditures and immigration reform.

“The governor will have an impact on our education or state deficit,” said philosophy major Nick Heartmann.

Poizner said he wanted to invest more into higher education by creating more jobs and bring back vocational programs to high schools to decrease drop out rates.

Additionally, Whitman said she wanted to reform the spending problem and re-invest into the University of California and Cal State University systems.

“The UC system, the CSU system and the community college system is the gem of California,” Whitman said.

Whitman also talked of cutting spending on administration and overhead, devoting the funds to the local schools. Her agenda included making schools more transparent and providing a letter grade for parents to identify the condition and qualities of the local schools.

“We need someone that is for change and for the people of California,” Brown said. “Students need an education.”

The two candidates also debated the immigration situation that has long been a hot-button issue among Californians.

On Whitman’s list of items are plans to instill a more strict and thorough version of E-Verify to hold employers accountable for illegal immigrant hiring practices. She said that she also plans on taking initiative towards sanctuary cities and boosting spending on border patrol and equipment.

“Let me be clear, I am a hundred percent against amnesty. No exception,” Whitman said.

Poizner vows to take a more “radical approach” and cut off the taxpayer-funded programs that help illegal immigrants. By doing so, he plans to eliminate the incentive for illegal immigrants to come to California.

He also criticized Whitman’s approach. Her approach, Poinzer said, is already in effect through the current state leadership and has brought forth no solution.

Both candidates have established their campaign on reaching out to those who have been victimized through job loss and the current disastrous economic situation. They also appealed to voters by regulating California government spending and generating private sector jobs.

“You are only as good as the people you work for,” said Whitman, referring to how government works. “You have to have the right people on your agenda”.

Poizner elaborated on his more “radical” agenda for California.

“I want to change the state of California by implementing some bold and sweeping reforms,” Poizner said.

These candidates face the daunting task of winning a state that is more than two-thirds of registered voters are democrats.